At a Glance
A secular worldview shaped the West since the Enlightenment–but it’s beginning to unravel. Dr. Bob Osburn talks with us about why postmodern ideologies are collapsing—and how Christianity offers a compelling return to reality. This is a timely conversation for anyone wondering how the church can rise to meet our cultural moment with clarity, courage, and hope.
Main Topics:
- The Decline of Secular Ideologies – Why movements like DEI and “wokeism” are fading and what it reveals about our cultural foundations
- Christianity as a Return to Reality – How biblical truth offers a framework for human dignity, freedom, and flourishing
- The Church’s Opportunity – Why now is the time for Christians to engage culture with a holistic, Scripture-rooted worldview
Dr. Bob Osburn
Bob Osburn is a Senior Fellow at Wilberforce International Institute. He has a PhD in international education from the University of Minnesota (2005), where he also was an adjunct lecturer for seven years in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. In 1978 he earned his ThM in Christian education at Dallas Theological Seminary, after earning a BA from the University of Michigan (1973). He has spent over 35 years serving in international student and academic ministry at the University of Minnesota, and successfully launched the 1998 World View for World Healing Conference that challenged international students to engage the deepest needs of their societies on the basis of a Christian worldview. He has been married to Susan for over 45 years, father of four sons, and grandfather to 11.
What You'll Hear
Using the link above, you can read the transcript or listen along while highlighted text follows the podcast audio.
"Christ is calling us to invite people into a genuine encounter with reality. And this return to reality, I think, is going to become one of the great apples of the gospel."
Bob Osburn [18:55]
Quotes
Go Deeper
10 Words to Heal Our Broken World: Restoring the Meaning of Our Most Important Words
By Scott David Allen
“Scott Allen provides an essential handbook for our most significant cultural conflict: the words that matter most, how they are being misdefined, and the definitions we must fight for.”
John Stonestreet, President of Colson Center and host of Breakpoint
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE CULTURE, YOU BEGIN BY CHANGING LANGUAGE.
The enemies of the gospel know this all too well. They’ve been cunningly at work redefining our most fundamental words, embedding them in our institutions and school curriculum, all to transform society to reflect their harmful, anti-Christian beliefs.
As followers of Jesus Christ, how should we respond? By clearly knowing and defending the true biblical definitions of at least ten critical words: truth, human, sex, marriage, freedom, justice, authority, faith, beauty, and love. If we long to see a revival in the church and a reformation of culture, we must recover the true definition of these ten foundational words.
Also, check out the 10 Words Bible study and companion videos.
Ten-Week Bible Study Course for 10 Words to Heal Our Broken World
By Scott David Allen
Perfect for small-group discipleship, this ten-week Bible study will help Christians:
• Discover the true meaning of these vital words through an in-depth study of the Scriptures.
• Reflect on how the true definitions differ from current understandings.
• Challenge Christians to replace false understanding with true meaning.
• Provide practical suggestions for how Christians can build their lives on true definitions and defend them in the public arena.
Purchase the Bible study on Amazon.
This Bible study is a companion to the book 10 Words to Heal Our Broken World: Recovering the Meaning of Our Most Important Words. Check out the 10 Words book and companion videos.
Developing Redemptive Change Agents: Discipleship That Helps Nations Flourish Rather Than Flounder
By Robert Osburn
“In his important new book, Robert Osburn deals with one of the most urgent questions facing the church in the 21st century. Why, despite their large numbers in the United States and rapidly growing numbers in Africa, Asia and Latin America, do evangelical Christians have so little influence on their surrounding culture?
It wasn’t always like this. In previous generations, as Osburn notes, “evangelicalism was massively transformative.”
Why Social Justice is Not Biblical Justice: An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis
By Scott David Allen
“Highly recommended!” – Wayne Grudem, PhD, Distinguished Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary
“I urge you to read and share this book immediately and widely!” – Kelly Monroe Kullberg, author of Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas
“We have long needed a book like this. Every serious Christian—especially every pastor—should read and heed the wisdom it contains.” – Tom Ascol, Senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church (Cape Coral, Florida), President of Founders Ministries
“We are a wounded nation now, and Christians need to bind up wounds and not make new ones. Instead of scorning those who push for social justice, we should recognize that leftist ideologues have twisted the concept of social justice, and some Christians have naively gone along with the distortion. Scott Allen offers an alternative that’s crucial to consider.” – Marvin Olasky, Editor in chief of WORLD magazine
Prepare yourself to defend the truth against the greatest worldview threat of our generation.
In recent years, a set of ideas rooted in postmodernism and neo-Marxist critical theory have merged into a comprehensive worldview. Labeled “social justice” by its advocates, it has radically redefined the popular understanding of justice. It purports to value equality and diversity and to champion the cause of the oppressed.
Yet far too many Christians have little knowledge of this ideology, and consequently, don’t see the danger. Many evangelical leaders confuse ideological social justice with biblical justice. Of course, justice is a deeply biblical idea, but this new ideology is far from biblical.
It is imperative that Christ-followers, tasked with blessing their nations, wake up to the danger, and carefully discern the difference between Biblical justice and its destructive counterfeit.
Why Social Justice is Not Biblical Justice aims to replace confusion with clarity by holding up the counterfeit worldview and the Biblical worldview side-by-side, showing how significantly they differ in their core presuppositions. It challenges Christians to not merely denounce the false worldview, but offer a better alternative—the incomparable Biblical worldview, which shapes cultures marked by genuine justice, mercy, forgiveness, social harmony, and human dignity. Learn more or download the free study guide.
